Multi-compartment container for sun screen application

ABSTRACT

A multi-chamber container includes at least two separate chambers containing different sun screen products for different use. The product made for use on the lips has a dispenser appropriate for application to the lips, while the product made for use on the body has a dispenser appropriate for that use.

This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) of the filing date of Provisional U.S. application Ser. No. 61/858,564, entitled Multi-Compartment Container for Sun Screen Application, filed on Jul. 25, 2013, which application is herein expressly incorporated herein by reference, in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to devices, systems and methods for sun screen application. More specifically, the present invention relates to a container which has separate chambers for different types of sun screen.

One of the most common needs in skin protection is the need to protect both the lips and the skin on the rest of the body. Sun screen is commonly used to protect exposed skin from sunburn and cancer-causing ultraviolet light from the sun. In addition to the skin of the torso, arms, legs, neck, and face, another often-exposed area of the body is the lips. The lips are also vulnerable to damage from ultraviolet rays, but a common problem in their protection is the method of sun screen application. Sunscreen for the lips is known in the prior art, but is formulated differently and sold separately, for taste and other reasons. Using a standard sun screen applicator meant for other parts of the body raises the issues of ingestion of sun screen or uneven application to the lips. Typically, this necessitates carrying two sun screen applicators: one for the body and one specifically designed to apply sun screen to the lips. Oftentimes, a person will arrive at the beach or to another sunny location and realize that, though they have a supply of regular sun screen, they did not remember to bring their lip screen. Sometimes, the opposite is the case, wherein the person remembered their lip screen, but forgot their sun screen. Moreover, even when the person remembers both containers, there is a considerable inconvenience in having to carry or store them both.

What is needed, therefore, is a single container capable of holding a supply of both types of sun screen, and dispensing each supply in a manner most suited to the type of application for that supply of sun screen.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of this invention to eliminate the inconvenience of carrying two separate sun screen applicators, and to ensure that if one has a container of sun screen in their possession, it includes a supply, as well, of sun-protective lip balm.

The invention is a multi-chamber container comprising at least two separate chambers containing different sun screen products for different use. The product made for use on the lips has a dispenser appropriate for application to the lips, while the product made for use on the body has a dispenser appropriate for that use.

In one aspect of the invention, there is provided a fluid material container which comprises, in combination, a first chamber having an interior volume for containing and dispensing a first material comprising a fluid through a first applicator, and a second chamber having a second interior volume for containing and dispensing a second material through a second applicator. The first and second materials have different compositions. They also may have different viscosities. In certain intended applications, the first material comprises a sun screen composition suitable for application on the body and/or face of a user, and the second material comprises a sun screen composition suitable for application on the lips of a user. The first applicator may comprise a nozzle in a wall of the first chamber, and the second applicator may comprise an opening suitable for applying a sun screen composition to the lips of a user. Caps may cover each of the first and second applicators.

In some embodiments contemplated within the scope of the invention, the first material comprises an aerosol and the nozzle in the wall of the first chamber comprises an aerosol nozzle. In some embodiments, also within the scope of the invention, the second applicator is adapted for applying a substantially solid form of the second material.

In some embodiments, the container has two opposing ends, the first applicator being on one of the two ends and the second applicator being on the other of the two ends. In some embodiments, the first applicator may comprise a hinged cap with an outlet aperture through the center. In some embodiments, the second applicator comprises a rounded dome with an outlet aperture through the center. Typically, the interior volume of the first chamber is substantially larger than the interior volume of the second chamber.

Usually, the second material also comprises a fluid. The first material may comprise a lotion, as may the second material. In some embodiments, the first and second chambers are permanently joined together, while in other embodiments, the first and second chambers are separable from and re-attachable to one another.

In another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for applying sun screen, which comprises steps of obtaining a container having a first chamber filled with a first type of sun screen and a second chamber filled with a second type of sun screen, opening the first chamber, dispensing a quantity of the first type of sun screen from the first chamber, and applying the quantity of the first type of sun screen to portions of a body of a user. The method further comprises steps of opening the second chamber, dispensing a quantity of the second type of sun screen from the second chamber, and applying the quantity of the second type of sun screen to different portions of a body of a user. The first type of sun screen is typically suitable for application to the torso, limbs, neck, or face of a user, and the second type of sun screen is typically suitable for application to the lips of a user.

The invention, together with additional features and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying illustrative drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of one embodiment of a container constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the container of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front view of an alternative version of the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, having a horizontal orientation of the second chamber;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the embodiment of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a front view of an alternative embodiment of a container of the present invention, showing a cap in a closed orientation;

FIG. 6 is a front view of the embodiment of FIG. 5, showing the same cap in an open orientation;

FIG. 7 is a front view of another embodiment of a container of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a front view of still another embodiment of a container of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a side view of the embodiment of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a front view of yet another embodiment of a container of the present invention; and

FIG. 11 is a front view of still another embodiment of a container of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, an inventive container A for holding and dispensing both sun screen for the body and face as well as a separate supply of lip-protecting sun screen is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. A chamber 1 is provided for holding a supply of lip sun screen, to be applied to a user's lips using an applicator 2, which is of a type typically used for applying lip sun screen, lip balm, lip stick, or the like. A larger chamber 3 is also provided for holding a supply of regular sun screen. An applicator 4, on an end of the container A opposite to that on which the applicator 2 is disposed, is provided for dispensing the regular sun screen. Typically, this applicator 4 will comprise an aperture or nozzle in the end of the container A, with a cap 5 for covering the nozzle 4 when not in use, and thus helping to maintain the integrity and sanitation of the applicator 4. As is known in the prior art, the cap 5 may comprise a flip-top, screw-on, or other known type of cap, and may include a protrusion from its inner side which is adapted to extend into the aperture when the cap is closed, and to snap into place.

FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate an alternative embodiment of the container A of FIGS. 1 and 2, wherein the lip applicator 2 is disposed on a side edge on the container A, and in the other version on the top edge, similar to that shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Other alternatives are possible and encouraged, as the inventive concept is primarily concerned with the idea of a single container having two separate supply reservoirs for containing two different types of sun screen, as well as separate applicators associated with each reservoir.

Each chamber 1, 3 has a construction appropriate to its purpose. Chamber 1 includes outer walls 6 which may be made of a softer material, or may be constructed to be thinner than the walls of chamber 3, so that they can be squeezed while the opening of the applicator 2 is in contact with the user's lips, using the dispenser 2 to rub the product within the reservoir 1 onto the lips. In some instances, however, depending upon employed materials, the entire container A may be comprised of the same material, with walls of equal thickness. This dispenser 2, as illustrated, may be rounded and otherwise appropriate for lip application. Alternative lip dispensers may comprise a smooth, angled shape (looking much like a lipstick).

In one particular embodiment, in manufacture, the container is injection molded of a suitable plastic, with a continuous tube between the lip balm applicator 2 and the regular sun screen applicator 4. A cap is placed on the lip balm applicator. The container is oriented with the lip balm dispenser on the bottom end, and lip screen is dispensed downwardly into the container 1 through the regular sun screen nozzle 4. Once the lip screen has fully entered into the compartment 1, the end between the compartments 1 and 3 is sealed using a heat/crimping tool, thus fabricating the bottom of the regular lotion compartment 3. The compartment 3 is then filled with regular sun screen to complete the manufacturing and filling process.

The dispenser for the body sun screen may alternatively might be a spray nozzle for either a propellant-based or pump-based dispensing system Such an embodiment is illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6. In this embodiment, a spray nozzle 7 is provided for spraying sun screen from the reservoir 3. A cap 8, which may be of the flip-type, shown in the closed position in FIG. 5, and in the open position in FIG. 6, covers the chamber 1 and applicator 2 for the lip sun screen, as shown. The lip sun screen portion 1, 2, 6, 8 of the container A may be separable from and re-attachable to the remaining portion of the container A, via a “snap-on” friction mounting or the like, or may alternatively be permanently mounted to the container A.

FIG. 7 illustrates a modified embodiment of a spray-type sun screen dispensing system, wherein, as in the previous embodiment of FIGS. 5 and 6, a spray nozzle 7 is provided for dispensing contents of the sun screen reservoir 3. However, in this embodiment, the lip sun screen chamber 1 and lip applicator 2 are mounted to a removable cap 9, which may be snapped or otherwise disposed in place to cover the nozzle dispenser 7.

FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate yet another modified embodiment of the invention, comprising a larger chamber 3 for containing sun screen within a container, as shown, as well as a lip sun screen chamber 1 and associated applicator 2 disposed on the container for the chamber 3. In this embodiment, a cap 10, which may be removable or of the flip-type, covers an applicator (not shown) for the sun screen, which may be of any type shown or disclosed for previous embodiments, including an aperture or a nozzle, etc. The chamber 1 is removably joinable to the chamber 3 by means of a grooved receptacle 11 and corresponding tongue 12, wherein the tongue 12 may be received and snapped into the groove 11 to join the chambers 1 and 3, and may also be readily removed from the groove 11 to separate the chamber 1 from the chamber 3, if desired.

In FIG. 10, an embodiment of the present invention is shown in which there is provided a chamber 3 for containing spray-type sun screen, dispensable through a nozzle 7. A removable cap 9 covers the nozzle 7. In this embodiment, a chamber 1 for lip sun screen comprises a hemispherical portion of solid, waxy-style lip sun screen covered by a hemispherical screw-on cap, which is mounted to the top of the cap 9.

FIG. 11 illustrates an embodiment somewhat similar to the embodiment of FIG. 10, but with changes noted as follows. In this embodiment, spray-type sun screen is stored in the chamber 3, as in the FIG. 10 embodiment, to be dispensed by nozzle 7, which is covered by a removable cap 9. However, in this embodiment, the lip sun screen chamber 1 is disposed beneath the chamber 3, either permanently or removably affixed to the chamber 3. Preferably, the lip sun screen, as in the FIG. 10 embodiment, comprises a hemispherical portion of solid, waxy-style lip sun screen, which in this case is covered by a squared-off cap 13, with a bottom surface so that the container A may stand easily on a flat surface, such as a table. Of course, as with the prior embodiments, various features of each of these illustrated embodiments, which are exemplary in nature, may be “mixed and matched” to create a desired version for a particular application. For example, as would be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art, the lip sun screen container 1 of the FIG. 11 embodiment could be used with a lotion-type body sun screen, rather than a spray-type sun screen, as illustrated.

Although the invention is described in the context of sun screen, and a two-compartment container is shown and disclosed, it should be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that more than two compartments, and associated applicators, may be employed within the inventive concept, and that other types of fluid materials/lotions may be employed as well.

Accordingly, although exemplary embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it is to be understood that all the terms used herein are descriptive rather than limiting, and that many changes, modifications, and substitutions may be made by one having ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A fluid material container comprising, in combination: a first chamber having an interior volume for containing and dispensing a first material comprising a fluid through a first applicator; and a second chamber having a second interior volume for containing and dispensing a second material through a second applicator; wherein the first and second materials have different compositions.
 2. The fluid material container as recited in claim 1, wherein the first and second material also have different viscosities.
 3. The fluid material container as recited in claim 1, wherein the first material comprises a sun screen composition suitable for application on the body and/or face of a user, and the second material comprises a sun screen composition suitable for application on the lips of a user.
 4. The fluid material container as recited in claim 3, wherein the first applicator comprises a nozzle in a wall of the first chamber, and the second applicator comprises an opening suitable for applying a sun screen composition to the lips of a user.
 5. The fluid material container as recited in claim 4, and further comprising a cap for covering the first applicator.
 6. The fluid material container as recited in claim 4, and further comprising a cap for covering the second applicator.
 7. The fluid material container as recited in claim 4, wherein the first material comprises an aerosol and the nozzle in the wall of the first chamber comprises an aerosol nozzle.
 8. The fluid material container as recited in claim 1, wherein the second applicator is adapted for applying a substantially solid form of the second material.
 9. The fluid material container as recited in claim 1, wherein the container has two opposing ends, the first applicator being on one of said two ends and the second applicator being on the other of said two ends.
 10. The fluid material container as recited in claim 1, wherein said first applicator comprises a hinged cap with an outlet aperture through the center.
 11. The fluid material container as recited in claim 1, wherein the second applicator comprises a rounded dome with an outlet aperture through the center.
 12. The fluid material container as recited in claim 1, wherein the interior volume of the first chamber is substantially larger than the interior volume of the second chamber.
 13. The fluid material container as recited in claim 1, wherein the second material also comprises a fluid.
 14. The fluid material container as recited in claim 1, wherein the first material comprises a lotion.
 15. The fluid material container as recited in claim 1, wherein the second material comprises a lotion.
 16. The fluid material container as recited in claim 1, wherein the first and second chambers are permanently joined together.
 17. The fluid material container as recited in claim 1, wherein the first and second chambers are separable from and re-attachable to one another.
 18. A method for applying sun screen, comprising: obtaining a container having a first chamber filled with a first type of sun screen and a second chamber filled with a second type of sun screen; opening the first chamber; dispensing a quantity of the first type of sun screen from the first chamber; applying the quantity of the first type of sun screen to portions of a body of a user; opening the second chamber; dispensing a quantity of the second type of sun screen from the second chamber; and applying the quantity of the second type of sun screen to different portions of a body of a user.
 19. The method as recited in claim 18, wherein the first type of sun screen is suitable for application to the torso, limbs, neck, or face of a user, and the second type of sun screen is suitable for application to the lips of a user. 